Frustrating day I had here

So, I went to bed really late last night and since Jessica is so close to delivering, I am keeping my phone on and by my bed. So at 9am I started getting text messages.

My next door neighbor was out back making his grand daughter a doll house. I went over and we started talking. He happened to mention that Harbor Freight had a mini table saw for sale. Since the store is only 15 - 20 minutes away, I decided to go down and check it out to see if it was something I could use to make shuttles. I get to the store and had to ask 3 different people for help after running around the store for about 20 minutes looking for it myself.

Well after all that, they tell me that they don't have any and the girl at the register will call the Glen Burnie store to check their stock. I went and stood at the register for about 15 mins while she took customer after customer - ignoring me after she initially acknowledged that she was to call another store for me. Mind you - her register was closed. I finally got tired of waiting and called the store myself. The man on the phone assured me that they had several in stock. I asked him to double check because I was coming from more than 30 minutes away - at the beginning of rush hour. He said that he couldn't leave his register, but assured me that they had a good supply.

I get into my truck and drive to the other store - 40 minute drive. I look all over the store and don't see the saw. I had to hunt down an employee to help me. This boy was scatterbrained. He acted like I was bothering him by asking for help. (I thought that was his job). So anyway, we go looking for the saw. Since he's the only employee on the floor, every customer in the store was vying for his attention. He walked away from me several times. He finally went to the register and asked the guy there if they had any Mighty Mini Table Saws. The guy said - yes they are on aisle 3. Well, aisle 3 was clamps and knee pads. NO TABLE SAWS. The boy left me again and another customer tried to help me. I got frustrated and went to the register and stood there while the boy was taking calls and helping other customers. After about 30 - YES 30 mintues, I finally demanded he help me. Again, he goes on the floor and decides that they don't have any. I looked up the item number from their web site and gave the number to this boy. Something he should have done 45 mins earlier. He then decided to look it up and told me that they didn't have any in stock. I started to blow. I demanded to have the store manager's number. He went to get this cell phone. HIS CELL PHONE. He then played with his phone for 5 more minutes before I again asked him to give me the store managers name and number. He said he didn't have the number. I asked him to write down the manager's name and the store number then made him give me his name and the other employee's number. (if you know me, you know that I was calm for about 1 hour longer than usual)

All of this took 2 1/2 hours. I was beyond furious.

So I get home and Shawn and I got the lathe together and the blade needs to be replaced. huge disappointment. Oh well, I got to use the machine.

So, now it's after 11pm and I'm exhausted. I forgot to eat dinner and will have to get a small snack and go to bed.

The upside is that my engraving machine will be here TOMORROW.

Interesting week I have here.

This has been an interesting week. I found out a little while ago that my engraving machine will be here on Friday. I looked at the shipping info and the darn thing weighs 72 pounds. How am I going to pick the darn thing up.  I have a drs appt on Friday and hope it doesn't come while I'm out. It's supposed to rain on Friday. I guess I will have to get the neighbor to receive the package if I'm not here.

I also have a package from Handy Hands coming today, tomorrow I get a package from Fire Mountain Gems. Monday I got a package from Lacis and yesterday I got a package from a purchase off of eBay. A package every day this week. It's like Christmas all week, except I've paid for all the packages.

Speaking of Christmas. I have decided that I am going to make most of my gifts this year. I want to use most of the skills I have for a variety of things. I'm going to bobbin lace some things, tat some things, crochet others and hopefully knit others.

I'm crocheting something now. It's coming along nicely and quickly.

I also started doing a new exercise routine. I started "Planking" on Monday. I have another exercise routine I'm starting next Monday. I need to get in shape and lose weight. I'm so out of shape. I have a goal for a certain amount of weight to lose before Nate and Naina's wedding. I need to start working now so I'm not in a panic next summer to lose a bunch of weight. I just have to get off my butt and do the work. I think once I see the weight coming off, I will get more motivated to lose.

And my therapist wants me to go back to my book. I need to get back into writing. I also have to prepare to be around my first husband at the wedding. I have about a year to prepare, so I think I'll do OK. The Book, The Book, The Book. I am curious to see if it will be good enough for anyone to read. My therapist says that I am very expressive when I write. We'll see.

So anyway, I'm going to bed. It's late or early, depends on if you are still awake, or getting up.

Linda Davies' doily

I have finally finished the Linda Davies' doily I  have been working on for a long time. I havn't worked on it consistanlty, so it took longer than I planned, but I finally got it done.

I don't like to block tatting because it messes up the picots and rings. That is exactly what happened to this doily. I had to wash it tho, because I did it in white thread. I would not want to have it not look white.

I steamed it and now will adjust the picots and rings when I get some free time. Here are the before and after blocking pix

Before blocking 

After blocking

 

So now I'm working on some Christmas gifts. I think this year I will make a lot of the gifts I give. I am going to do some bobbin lace gifts, some tatted gifts, some crocheted gifts and some knited gifts. If I have the time, I will also quilt some. I'd better get started. Lots to do and not a lot of time to do it.

Hand dyed thread flying off the shelves

Wow. In the last 5 days, I have sold more HDT than I can imagine. It's flying off the shelves. I am going to have to start making more soon.

I don't know if it's the colors or if more people are fining my Etsy store. This is the 4th trip to the post office this week and I am not going with just one envelope each time. It's nice to know that people are liking the thread and colors.

Off to the post office and then to get more thread ready to be dyed. And I thought this was going to be a nice and lazy day. Nope.

CNC engraver finally ordered

Woo Hoo. I am finally able to order my CNC machine. I will be able to engrave shuttles and make some that are lacy.

It should take about a week for it to get here. I am SOOOOOOOO excited. The money is finally available for me to purchase it. I can't wait to see what I come up with and what I can design and make.

New Tools

Shawn and I went to the Md Home and Garden show today with Wade and Renee. We had a great time. Had breakfast first at the Silver Diner in Laurel. Ran into someone I was in the Police Academy with.

At the show, we stopped by the "Tomboy" booth. It's a line of tools for women. Made to fit our smaller hands and lighter than male tools. I got some really great tools today. I got a full toolbox, a cordless drill, a Die Grinder, Screwdriver/Drill, Scissors, Precision Circular Saw, Reciprocating Saw and Angle Drill heads. It also includes various bits and blades, and an AC Adapter neatly organized and stored in a beautiful aluminum carrying case. Some of the tools need to be shipped because the dealer was sold out.

I am going to be able to do some really nice work with these tools.Now if I could just get my engraving machine (Hint Hint Shawn), I will be great. I am excited to see what beautiful shuttles I will be able to create with these.

More to come.

Getting my beads organized

So, I've been working all evening at getting my beads organized and purging the ones I don't need anymore. I have good sized box full of beads that I am giving up. I will let Gen take her pick of what she wants, then I will offer my tatting friends the rest. If I don't get rid of them with my tatting friends, eBay they go.

Some of these beads have been in my posession for about 20 years when I started my jewelry business. I'm keeping all of my seed beads and most of my 4 and 6 mm semi precious stone beads, but the rest are going.

Happy to be purging. Watch out, the cross stitch stuff may be next.

Hand Dyed Thread DONE and for sale

I just finished posting the latest batch of hand dyed thread in my Etsy store. The store name is NAGStudio. I am so happy that it's finished. I have some bold colors to offer this go around. Now it's time to sit back and wait for some sales.

My hands are stained with dye and my feet hurt from standing for 2 +  hours dyeing the thread, but I am really happy with the results.

I only had one skein that didn't turn out the way I wanted it to. I tried to dye it pink and black and the black bled into the pink. Oh well, 1 out of 32 isn't bad. I think I'll keep it and use it for something. Not sure what, but it won't go to waste.

I also got 3 shuttles done today. Two purple heart and one maple. I really like the way they came out but I sanded the finger nail off of one of my fingers. Boy does that hurt. Good thing it will grow back.

Now I need to organize my thread, tatting supplies and my beads. I'm trying to get and stay organized.

hdt almost done

So, I have wound 12 50 yard skeins of size 20 thread and 10 50 yard skeins of size 40 thread. In the morning I will be dyeing it and then hopefully by tomorrow evening I will have posted it in my Etsy store.

I'm going for bolder colors. I tend to go for more pastel colors since I love to tat with pastels, but this time, I'm going to get a little bold. I can't wait to see what comes out. I want to do a couple confetti skeins as well. They are so much fun to tat with.

On another note, Shawn has to go to work tonight and work for 12 hours. He usually works day shift and it's going to be hard for him to stay awake all night. I pray that he is able to make it the whole night and be OK to drive home tomorrow.

I have 3 tatting shuttles to finish so I can mail them in the morning. Two purple heart and one maple. I also need to mail a test shuttle out.

Shawn made a new type of shuttle and I have 3 out there now. I haven't heard any feedback yet on them. I'm sending one more out tomorrow. The design is really cool and I hope to be able to get positive feedback and put it up for sale soon.

More HDT coming

I am planning on getting more hand dyed thread done and posted in my Etsy store soon. I have some Christmas colors and winter colors planned. I love love love to do pastel colors but will try to stay away from them this time. I want some bolder colors this time.

If you have a color you want to see in my store, please comment and I will do my best to make any requested colors.

Check my store later this week or next week for the new colors to be ready for purchase.

teaching tatting

I have been tatting for about 15 years. I picked up the artform very quickly. I got the flip on the first try. Not many people do that. So I am not bragging, just stating a fact. I am going somewhere with this one. I have been teaching tatting to anyone who wants to learn at no charge. The person that taught me charged $56 for 3 lessons that were 2 hours each. I bartered with her and paid her with one of my grandmother's favorite tatting books. I regret giving that book up. I never want anyone to have to give something up to learn to tat. I teach for free.

There was a post on facebook, on one of the tatting groups that I subscribe to, asking if anyone was in my area. So of course I responded. I'm always anxious to help. Tomorrow I will be meeting with her to help her with her tatting. She's been tatting for under 2 months and is just now picking up the shuttle. I'm excited to help another tatter.